The Silver Fern

knee jerk reaction for the 2025 season - fowards generally not too bad this year..... backs.... hard to pencil anyone in outside of 9

1. Ethan de Groot / Williams ----- pen them in.
2. Codie Taylor / Aumua ------ pen them in
3. Tyrel Lomax / Fletcher Newell --------------- pen them in
4. Scott Barrett --- Shadow of the player he was last two years - captaincy not suiting him?
5. Patrick Tuipulotu - probably his best season in black - Pen him in
   (LOCKING pleasingly we have good competition in the locking department so pick on form)
6. Wallace Sititi - PEN HIM IN probably 8 --- ridiculous we needed an injury to see him selected
7. Sam Cane - warrior -- thanks for the service -- position available ffs please pick on form. (Lakai possibly leading contender)
8. Ardie Savea - passed his use by date - needs to earn selection
9. Cam Roigard -- I'd pen him in but Ratima and Hotham are not bad so would select on form.
10. Beauden Barrett at least 3 years passed his used by date
    10 Damian McKenzie -- a better option than BB but like BBs dinky kicks.. Dmac can go sideways headless chicken a bit too much - POSITION OPEN - we need to be brave and select on form
11. Caleb Clarke - his best season and only outside back Id keep on form
12. Anton Lienert-Brown . Jordie / good D zero creativity - position open
13. Rieko Ioane -- Good D zero creativity - position open
14. Mark Tele’a / Reece -- see yas we need youth and speed
15. Will Jordan -- try scoring machine but I am not convinced -- select position on form and ffs choose a specialist 15 please

Unfortunately we have some how got to the point that players retain the jersey far too easily - selections should be ruthlessly earned.

rant over -- see you all in 2025

@nostrildamus said in Italy v All Blacks:

So how would you rank De Groot and Williams at the moment? Or is it difficult to tell?

Both world class scrummaging props that put us in a good position for next few years.
Williams edges him around the field a little but feel Ethan is maligned a lot more than he deserves on the part... either way both will be destroying opposition front rows for the next few years

Off to teach kids to play golf now.... no way it can be as frustrating as watching this lol

@MajorRage said in Italy v All Blacks:

We have literally zero idea what to do with line breaks.

Zero.

no good distributors and no one running nice lines to give them options... also appears to be a lack of communication and "instinct"

Has to be the worst 40mins of AB rugby in a few years .... and there is plenty of competition for that title..

Set the ruck and recycle the ball ffs .... but i guess we are not committing to the rucks cos of "reasons"

@frugby said in Italy v All Blacks:

@antipodean said in Italy v All Blacks:

@frugby said in Italy v All Blacks:

This ref sucks.

Of course he does. He's French.

We've been crap, but feel like we are being forced to kick in some ways because the breakdown is such a mess - and that is on the ref. Italy consistently with their hands in there, and going off their feet.

Once upon a time in a galaxy far far away .. we would have flooded the rucks and smashed them out of there...

Well this 30 mins sums up my view of the the ABs this season.

Joke of ta call..... absolute farcical

By gawd BB has done well off POTY 2016 /17

@KiwiMurph said in Italy v All Blacks:

Just what's needed after a huge line break

A grubber

Did the same last week which was very costly..... he's a liability

@Yeetyaah said in Italy v All Blacks:

Is this how the game is played in the NH? Genuinely, all of these teams bar England have just flopped all over the ruck this whole tour.

But they seem to get away with it... the main issue I have is the way the refs coach them out of it .. after they have already slowed the ball down....

seriously a dozen of these in every match...

Do the ABs get more "attention" from the TMOs.. or are we just that stoopid?

would be nice to see BB actually run on to the ball and not just shovel flat ball constantly.....
Instead of cross and box kicks a traditional grubber in behind will find plenty of space

we're adjusting to the interpretations so well....

@Mr-Fish said in Italy v All Blacks:

Roigard stripped at an attacking maul and suddenly Italy have a lineout inside NZ's 22...

Not sure the Italian maintained his bind .. but we should be better than that

@sparky said in Italy v All Blacks:

Nothing pretty from the ABs so far.

scrums were nice

OMG even Jeff Wilson is talking sense now .....

Is anyone really surprised by this start....

Good scrum, great having Tamiti and Ethan .. bodes well for next few years